Oust me if u can, PM dares Opp

LAHORE - Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday challenged the Opposition to move a no-confidence motion against him if it had the required numbers in the National Assembly. The Opposition is welcome to dismantle the government if it has the guts to do so, the prime minister said while talking to the media after inaugurating the Paksat-1R Communication Control Facility at Kala Shah Kaku near Lahore. Gilani said those talking of holding long march and dislodging the government were free to test their muscles, adding that the government did not feel threatened due to Oppositions rallies and protests. He said there was no opposition party in the country as all were in government in one form or another. In an obvious reference to PML-N, the premier said: On the one hand, they are in government, while on the other; they talk of dislodging the government to save their credibility. Replying to a question, the prime minister said the PPP would move a resolution in Punjab Assembly for the creation of a new province in southern Punjab, saying that it would be a test of the PML-N commitment on the subject, as Nawaz Sharif had supported the idea of a new province. When the resolution for the new province is moved it will be revealed whether PML-N government supports it or not, he observed. A separate province was the longstanding demand of the people of southern Punjab, Gilani said, adding that the new province could be given any name, as nomenclature makes no difference. One can give any name to a flower but its fragrance remains the same, he added. He said the new province could also be given the name of 'Bahawalpur, as efforts were afoot to make it controversial. Some say it should be named Seraeiki province, while others would plead it should be called South Punjab. But I say that South Punjab is a flower, and its fragrance will not change whatever name you may give it. Commenting on PTIs rally at Minar-e-Pakistan, he said its message was only meant for the Lahorites. He said PPP parliamentarians had already declared their assets before 2008 elections. Gilani said under the law nobody could become member of any legislative assembly unless he/she declares his/her assets. The PM said all governments, federal and provincial, were facing corruption charges, but astonishingly enough, only the federal government was being targeted. If anybody had proof of corruption against the present government, he/she should go to courts, he told his opponents. Talking about drone attacks, the PM said that after the recent statement by America on the issue, one thing had been established that these attacks were not being carried out with Pakistans consent. If the government reached some understanding on drone strikes with the US, it will be made public, he assured. On MFN status to India, the premier said that India enjoyed this status from 1947 to 1065. Now with the resumption of trade links, the two countries will not only have trade ties, they will also resolve contentious issues including Kashmir through negotiations, he hoped, while assuring that government will neither compromise Kashmir cause nor take any U-turn on the issue. Coming to Kalabagh Dam issue, he said no government in the past including the dictators and those having two-third majority, could build this dam. They only showed 'sabz bagh to the people, he said, adding that PPP was in favour of the dam if it is built with consensus of all provinces. Earlier, addressing the ceremony regarding inauguration of Satellite Ground Control Station and Commencement of PAKSAT-1R Communication Services, the PM said it was yet another manifestation of the longstanding strategic relationship between Pakistan and China which had taken their time-tested friendship to new heights. He expressed pleasure that PAKSAT 1R has reached its intended orbit and all subsystems were functioning perfectly well. He said the presence of many Chinese dignitaries in this ceremony was indicative of the commitment of China and the importance it attaches to Pakistans space programme. Application of space technologies is contributing significantly to socio-economic development, he said. These technologies have also greatly changed the concept of national security of countries, he added. Access to and adoption of these technologies is important for developing countries like Pakistan. It was with this realisation in mind that I approved Pakistans Space Vision-2040, earlier this year, he added. The successful launching and commissioning of PAKSAT 1R marks the first significant step towards realising the Space Vision, he noted. The prime minister said Communication satellites are playing a vital role across the world over in bridging the digital divide between backward and remote areas and urban centres in the fields of health, education, entertainment and communication service delivery. PAKSAT-1R would help to extend the communication infrastructure to the entire country thus bringing the fruits of socio-economic development to the remotest corners of Pakistan, he mentioned. He said SUPARCOs space applications programme is already contributing to various fields, the significant ones being agriculture, crop monitoring, yield estimation, food and water security, improvement of water courses, monitoring of environment, disaster monitoring and mitigation, land cover use and many others. Now with the availability of communication satellite PAKSAT-1R, significant strides will be made in these areas to give impetus to all walks of national reconstruction and development, Gilani said. The Prime Minister said, besides playing its fundamental role for extending communication facilities, I would like to urge SUPARCO and other stakeholders to focus more on tele-education and tele-medicine for improving the quality of life in the remote areas. By doing this, you will be able to extend benefits of the communication satellite services to the less privileged sections of society. After the successful deployment of PAKSAT 1R, he said he directed SUPARCO to focus on the development of Remote Sensing Satellites to ensure that these satellites are developed and launched as envisaged in the Space Vision 2040. The Prime Minister urged all federal ministries and provincial departments to fully utilize space technology as an instrument of the socio-economic development. It is indeed crucial, that the space assets that we acquire should be fully utilized for national cause, he added.